<p>I am a girl majoring in mechanical engineering. I am currently taking my first design class and while I think it's very fun, I don't feel as competent as some of the other people in my class. They seem to know how to already build things already while I'm just starting out and haven't had much experience in a machine shop; I don't like feeling like I don't belong, but sometimes I do. Can I learn to be better at designing and building things or is it an inherent trait? (No, I wasn't building belt drives when I was in middle school!)</p>
<p>I am thinking to switch into chemical engineering not just because I'm nervous I won't be 'good enough' or 'hands on' enough for mechE,but because I kind of miss chemistry. I understand what chemical engineers do and that it's not all chemistry, but that's ok because I've been doing some research and it still seems interesting to me (I took an engineering thermodynamics class and absolutely enjoyed it a lot). Also, I once heard someone say that chemical engineers have an advantage over mechE's in a way that they are like mechE's but with more chemistry knowledge :O</p>
<p>My problem is that most people I've been talking to suggest that I stay in MechE because it's a very versatile degree, and my school has a lot better mechE program than it does chemE. </p>
<p>Are there enough chemE jobs in California or would I have to relocate? Do you think a chemE could do whatever a MechE could do? Is chemE being outsourced/dying profession? Is chemE versatile? Can I go to graduate school for something mechE related if I get a BS in chemE?</p>
<p><strong>Sorry for the extremely long post, but I need a lot of input on this please. I had a nervous breakdown today and it was such a scary feeling</strong></p>
<p>I believe there are more chemical engineering jobs in California than most other states. Can chemical engineers do what mechanical engineers do? No, but they do overlap in certain areas especially when dealing with transport phenomena. Is chemical engineering dying? No, but it does appear like it. There are only about 70,000 practicing chemical engineers in the U.S. last I’ve checked. Look at the bls.gov and search for chemical engineer outlook. It’s growing slower than average, but it’s not dying yet. Chemical engineer are supposedly known as universal engineer as well. They work in many different industries. Can you go to graduate school as an mechanical engineer if your undergraduate degree was in chemical engineer? Yes, I believe your transition wont be difficult depending on what you specialized in mechanical engineering (transport phenomena…)</p>
<p>If you miss the chemistry, you might want to also consider Materials Science/Engineering. </p>
<p>I’m sure if you stuck with MechE, you would learn a lot and feel more comfortable with the work as you go along. And you will have your strengths that other MechE students might not have. But, I do understand. I remember feeling the same way.</p>
<p>Very few mechanical engineering students have had experience in a machine shop and having that experience is not an indicator of success as a mechanical engineer. After all, your job isn’t to do the machining; that’s a machinist’s job.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Sure you can get better at that stuff. Of course you have to realize that mechanical engineering is much larger than that. I never did any of that before, during, or after graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. You don’t have to be a hands-on type tinkerer to be a mechanical engineer at all. You can always work on the design or modeling side of things, for example.</p>
<p>I do recall feeling a little odd that I was one of the handful of people in my graduating class who didn’t get involved with the degree specifically due an interest in cars, but that was okay because the degree itself is so much more versatile than that.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is not true. I have heard plenty of chemical engineering students make this sort of claim, and I have no idea where it starts, but it is silly. They don’t take any controls classes or machine design classes or strength of materials classes. Really the only overlap is somewhat on the thermofluids side of things (though the foci in the two fields are different in this area) and basic chemistry.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In most cases, no. Same thing going the other direction in that a mechanical engineer in general is not qualified to do what a chemical engineer does either.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Sure, though there would likely be some catch-up/remedial coursework to do to bring yourself up to speed with whichever branch of mechanical engineering you chose.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This may be true among chemical engineers, but no one else considers them as “universal engineers”.</p>
<p>Where a mechanical engineer can put his hands on something he is working with and feel it, pick it up and move it around (many times but not all the time; you get the idea), a chemical engineer usually can’t. He/she might see the end products but you can’t see the internal mechanisms that you are depending on to function as you are working on the molecular level. </p>
<p>It might just be my experience, but I known several people that have enjoyed chemistry and decided to go into chemical engineering and found it very difficult (I also know others that are quite successful at it). I didn’t go that route but I, too, would have found it difficult as I am best at visualizing hardware that has shape and form. MY hat is off to those that are successful in ChemE. </p>
<p>Something to think about. What are your strengths?</p>
<p>As stated before, not everyone has machine shop experience going into MechE programs. Those that do might stand out initially, but you’ll get some experience and be right there with them eventually.</p>
<p>Once you’re out of school (be it undergrad or grad) it’s likely the only time you’d be using your experience in the machine shop is understanding what sort of machine operations are feasible and what aren’t. Just be concerned about getting a solid understanding of that, and don’t worry if you’re necessarily the most skilled on the band saw or lathe.</p>
<p>I won’t drop MechE because of concerns about the machine shop course. When you get into the higher electives, you will be able to select an area of focus that you find interesting. Check out your schools class catalogue and chat with some upper classman.</p>
<p>Also, see this tread on selecting a engineering major. Many thought ChemE was less about chemistry than kinetics and fluid flow:</p>
<p>I’m taking some additional classes along with my ME major and I just feel it’s a little hectic. Coincidentally those classes are requirements for ChemE. Would it be smart to be a chemE major and take maybe 2-3 additional ME classes (solid mechanics, linear ciruits,etc)?</p>